Win 8 to Win 7

[Mr_D]

Have computers with Win 7 on them. Ordered two new HP desktops and they come with Win 8. Neither my grandson nor I want Win 8. Can I remove Win 8 and use the licensed copies of Win 7 we already have?

[Arch Hoagland]

Looking to do the same thing myself. The problem will be drivers for the hardware. I've looked on HP's site and the only drivers they will provide are for Windows 8.

However I suspect when you load Windows 7 on to the system Windows will manage to provide drivers that may work.

I have loaded XP onto my two year old HP laptop that had Windows 7 and it works OK...Had to play around a bit getting drivers.

Costco online currently has a HP 15" laptop with Windows 7 for $299.

[Francesca]

I'm still with Windows XP and if it ever stops working I intend to abandon this whole computer thing and buy myself a pencil.

[vtwinwilly]

Originally Posted by Francesca

I'm still with Windows XP and if it ever stops working I intend to abandon this whole computer thing and buy myself a pencil.

Don't forget the Big Chief tablet!

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland

Looking to do the same thing myself. The problem will be drivers for the hardware. I've looked on HP's site and the only drivers they will provide are for Windows 8.

However I suspect when you load Windows 7 on to the system Windows will manage to provide drivers that may work.

I have loaded XP onto my two year old HP laptop that had Windows 7 and it works OK...Had to play around a bit getting drivers.

Costco online currently has a HP 15" laptop with Windows 7 for $299.

The ones we ordered at i7 3770's with 16GB memory, my Dell laptop is already an i7 2770 and 8GB memory with Win 7 64 bit.

Grandson says the games he wants to play won't run on Win 8.

I used to beta test stuff for Microsoft, not anymore!!

[wonderer1]

check out Leo Laport the tech guy. he has answers how to make windows 8 act like window 7. he has a talk radio show and a web site.

[v8dave]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Have computers with Win 7 on them. Ordered two new HP desktops and they come with Win 8. Neither my grandson nor I want Win 8. Can I remove Win 8 and use the licensed copies of Win 7 we already have?

I agree with your Win-8 to Win-7 change.

Regarding "use the licensed copies of Win 7 we already have?"

Depends on what type of license. If it was supplied by the previous computer manufacturer, it may not be transferable. OEM licenses aren't supposed to able to be transferable. The only way to tell is to load Windows-7 and see if it checks the processor serial number with Microsoft and asks you for a new registration code.

End user Windows-7 purchased off the shelf with loadable media are transferable--providing you delete it off the previous computer. Windows will check with Microsoft to see the same registration number doesn't pop up on two computers.

You can buy OEM versions of Windows-7 from Newegg, I saw a Win-7 Home package on sale today for ~$80, they have Win-7 Pro regularly on sale in the $130 range. Both can include media for loading, but OEM versions will tie to the serial number of the processor in your computer.

I have built two Win-7 Pro systems with parts from Newegg and have been very happy with their service. In addition I upgraded a Win-XP lap-top system to Win-7 Pro and put in a solid state disk drive, Was very happy with the changes.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by v8dave

I agree with your Win-8 to Win-7 change.

Regarding "use the licensed copies of Win 7 we already have?"

Depends on what type of license. If it was supplied by the previous computer manufacturer, it may not be transferable. OEM licenses aren't supposed to able to be transferable. The only way to tell is to load Windows-7 and see if it checks the processor serial number with Microsoft and asks you for a new registration code.

End user Windows-7 purchased off the shelf with loadable media are transferable--providing you delete it off the previous computer. Windows will check with Microsoft to see the same registration number doesn't pop up on two computers.

You can buy OEM versions of Windows-7 from Newegg, I saw a Win-7 Home package on sale today for ~$80, they have Win-7 Pro regularly on sale in the $130 range. Both can include media for loading, but OEM versions will tie to the serial number of the processor in your computer.

I have built two Win-7 Pro systems with parts from Newegg and have been very happy with their service. In addition I upgraded a Win-XP lap-top system to Win-7 Pro and put in a solid state disk drive, Was very happy with the changes.

I built one of the systems and bought a 3 PC version of Win 7, only used two of them. And one of those will be deactivated so that leaves me two Win 7 Pro installs.
I have been building and selling PC's since the early 90's as a sideline to my IT job, but decided I would just buy the latest ones as the price was less than what I could build one for.

[Toyduck]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

The ones we ordered at i7 3770's with 16GB memory, my Dell laptop is already an i7 2770 and 8GB memory with Win 7 64 bit.

Grandson says the games he wants to play won't run on Win 8.

Windows 8 should run everything Windows 7 did - the only applications I have any problem with are older applications written for Windows 2000, and some XP apps. The only real thing I dislike is the net Metro interface.

A lot of games requiring high end graphics could be a problem, you may not get the high end resolution your grandson wants.

Of course the other problem is Win8 isn't compatible with my current (old?) scanner, fax, printers...that was more bothersome than the apps.

Drivers may be an issue if you have any hardware specific/customized items for the make model you have if you do decide to move back to Win7.

Don

[wanderso]

You should have little issue going back to 7 if you can get an install CD. Virtually all corporations are not yet on Windows 8 and receive brand new laptops and desktops with 7 installed or reconfigure them from a corporate disc image.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by Toyduck

A lot of games requiring high end graphics could be a problem, you may not get the high end resolution your grandson wants.

He's already planning on buying a high end graphics card later.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by wanderso

You should have little issue going back to 7 if you can get an install CD. Virtually all corporations are not yet on Windows 8 and receive brand new laptops and desktops with 7 installed or reconfigure them from a corporate disc image.

Yep, when I was doing IT that was one job that I usually assigned to the junior IT people! I'd set up the image on the server and make a boot disk to do the while install almost hands free.

[justaroamer]

I hate Win8 and use Classic Shell which makes Win8 look and act like Win7 on the front end does not affect operation of Win8, but gives you back the traditional desktop.
For more options to rid yourself of Win8's ugly unusable desktop,
6 Start Menu Replacements for Windows 8

[spinn]

+1 on justaroamer's suggestion, I use the same interfce.

BTW if you do (and I do not recommend you do) try and install Win7 over Win8 you may have to make some BIOS changes to allow the install. As part of the Win8 requirement OEM's were required to use a signed (like MS did with drivers) BIOS, which allows much less user control of the BIOS hardware configuration. Most OEM's are actually providing a way to use an unsigned BIOS but in some cases the system will not load Win8 when that configuration is selected. Please dont confuse this with UEFI which is generational change is computer BIOSs

Have fun and if you do get a win8 machine, please, please, please get it with a touch screen, the Win8 experience falls short when used with a touchpad or mouse.

I typically build my own systems so I will stay with Win7 for as long as I can but the direction that Microsoft is taking with user interfaces is definitely Win8 like, even their server products.

Have fun - Steve